http://www.centredaily.com/2014/04/25/4150380/akron-rocker-brian-lisik-juggles.html
(photo: Benjamin Lehman)
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Lisik featured in Centre Daily Times - State College, Pa.
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/04/25/4150380/akron-rocker-brian-lisik-juggles.html
(photo: Benjamin Lehman)
Friday, January 24, 2014
LATEST LISIK NEWS: A new year, a new record (and book and concert film), and a new multi-state tour on the horizon
EXCESS BAGGAGE VOL. 11 ISSUE 1
Howdy kids - long time no talk to (and Happy New Year by the
way) but since there has been quite a little bit o' news since the holidays
(shoot on over to the shows page for more on that) we thought we'd drop you all
a line.
Check out the latest issue of the the New Philadelphia Times
Reporter (Jan. 21) for a very cool feature by Joe Wright on all the latest
Lisik recording and touring news - including our next New Phile show Feb. 1 at
Gavin's on the Square; a Feb. 6 appearance on the Fox 8 Morning Show; and
upcoming Feb. and Mar. shows in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Nashville, and State
College, Pa. Gee, now I don't have to write another Excess Baggage for a few more weeks - thanks Joe!
And while we're at it, a big shout out to Pittsburgh-based
writer-photographer Hugh Twyman for the First/Last interview this month on his HughShows blog.
Also, be sure to check out some in-the-works demos of songs
from the upcoming Brian Lisik and the Unfortunates album - due summer 2014 - at
our new Sound Cloud page .
So with all that said, stay tuned for updates on the new CD,
a lyric book-on-the-road-memoir project, two concert film releases, and a (very secret,
hush-hush for now) big national television show audition/showcase next month.
Till then, see ya at the shows!
Cheers,
Brian
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
LATEST LISIK NEWS: Work on new album continues; live concert film coming soon; select shows thru 2013
EXCESS BAGGAGE: VOL. 10 ISSUE 2Howdy folks -
As work continues at Studio 521 on the new studio album from Brian Lisik and the Unfortunates (due out Spring 2014), be on the lookout later this month for the release of the band's live concert film Save Me From My Life, shot by Henry J. Konczak at shows in Canton, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pa. in the summer of 2012 (and check out the stunning cover art mock up above from the amazing - just ask him - Gerard Dominick of G-Designs!)
Also check out brianlisik.com to order yer very own copy of The Mess That Money Could Buy (if you've been living under a rock and don't own one yet. Plus, ya know, Christmas is coming, so you can order another one for the less fortunate of yer family and friends!) and the snappy new Mess That Money Could Buy T shirts, in brilliant black-n-white or black-n-blue (which one ya pick probably says something about you psychologically...but we won't tell).
And be sure to check out updates on the Shows page, as we will be making select appearances in Ohio and Pa. throughout the year, gearing up for the big Midwest/East Coast tour in 2014.
Cheers babies - and see ya at the shows!
Brian
Friday, August 30, 2013
LISIK INTERVIEWED BY CORRUPTSYLVANIA MAG.
(hearts and smiley faces included...)
I'd like to introduce Brian Lisik to you tonight. He is another AWESOME Artists from the Arkon, OH show case that I was able to finally meet up with. Brian it's been a pleasure chatting it up with off and on the past few weeks and to finally be able to post our interview thrills me. I love your answers to all my off the wall questions I tossed at ya. You're wonderful. I look forward to checking in with you from time to time to see how things are goin.
So, Here it is everyone my interview with Brian Lisik.
Raven: When did music become your passion?
Brian Lisik: Like most people, I've always had music around me in some way. My parents always had a lot of stuff from the 50s and 60s lying around - Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, old country stuff. But when my older brother, Brock, got a guitar when he was about 15 and one of our cousins played us a Waylon Jennings record, it was all over. Brock learned as much of the Waylon catalog we could get our hands on, so I got to see someone playing Waylon songs in my own basement. At about 10 years old I began to really think 'THAT is something I could see myself doing.' Plus it had become painfully apparent by that point that I was a horrible baseball player and Indiana Jones wasn't hiring archaeologist interns to help fight Nazis, so my options were limited.
Raven: What drives you to keep pursing your dreams?
Brian Lisik: Stupidity mainly. And the fact that I keep coming up with songs and the live set keeps getting more solid and better. I guess the goal from the beginning was to become really good, get lots of accolades for my brilliance, then ride off into the sunset or something. I've gotten better, some people have told me I'm not bad, but I'm far from riding off anywhere yet.
Raven: What are your aspirations for the future?
Brian Lisik: I think I probably started to answer that one in the last question. In general, just to keep working and getting paid. In the immediate future, the band and I are recording a new CD that we hope to have out in the spring of 2014 - and we have been talking to a couple different labels about releasing it, which could open it up to some more markets than the other ones have been able to hit. So far we've had great success press-wise - and thank you for that - but I'd definitely like to tour more. I play throughout the Midwest and East Coast fairly regularly, but maybe get out west and down south some. And we are also releasing a live DVD later this year. So stay tuned.
Raven: How has the underground music world been to you?
Brian: The underground music world has kind of been a second - or maybe first - home for me. And 'underground' has meant a lot of different things over the years that I've been playing. I used to write for Scene Magazine in Cleveland and I got to review all the 'underground' music that the magazine received - which meant mostly self-released or very small label stuff that nobody else wanted to listen to. But I discovered some killer bands that way; Guided By Voices, Afghan Whigs, Less Than Jake, the Kelley Deal 6000, Todd Snider, some guy named Bob from Detroit who went by the name Kid Rock - then years later, many of these bands were being touted as the new wave of 'Alternative music' and everybody wanted to sound like The Nixons. To me, music - at least rock music - sounds best all loud and sweaty in a basement that smells like a cross between stale beer and mold. But I play at many much nicer places now - you know, since I am a guy who gets interviewed by magazines now. Wink.
Raven: HeHe!
Raven:What’s your favorite moment so far in your career?
Brian Lisik: Boy, that is a tough one. Really every time my band and I are on stage and hit a groove and sort of glance at each other with that 'wow' expression - that becomes the latest 'favorite moment.' But I'd have to say the best times overall have been the really surreal moments - having lunch at Don Dixon's house with the Smithereens and Don gets a call from the guy who is about to go out on tour playing drums for Don Henley; doing shots and learning the chords to 'Frankie' backstage with Jesse Malin while my bass player is banging on the door going 'dude, we're on, let's go!'; practicing in the garage with my daughter and her friends as our 'audience'; watching my son sing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs with his new guitar player at a show on a patio in Canton last week...I got a million of 'em.
Raven: Where is your next event going to be held at?
Brian Lisik: I am playing at 6 p.m. tomorrow night (Aug. 30) at Eadies Fish House, 6616 Wise Ave. N.W. in North Canton. But depending on when this story runs, just check out www.brianlisik.com for the whole schedule.
Also, Oct. 5 at http://thecenterofharmony.com/
Raven: Where can we find your music to listen so we can jam to your awesomeness?
Brian Lisik: You can find me @
www.brianlisik.com
Brian Lisik rock musician and writer.
Raven:What is your favorite color and why?
Brian Lisik: Apologies to all the artists out there who may claim white and black aren't real colors, but I just feel like I look best wearing black. And I love Johnny Cash. So black is my favorite color.
Raven:Do you have a favorite memory from life so far that you can share with us?
Brian Lisik: Hmm...another tough one. Actually I can't think of just one. I'm proud of a lot of my accomplishments and being a dad has been one big long favorite memory really. But I guess I'll be vague and say I'm glad that in the memory department, I've had more favorites than not. From what I can remember.
Raven:If a fan is sitting there struggling with something in life, what would your advice be to them?
Brian Lisik: Don't quit. I know that sounds all Nancy-Reagan-Just-Say-No, or I'm-OK-Your-OK psycho-babble crap. But I remember several years ago, when I was going through - in hindsight - what was a really rough time for me - and a guy I worked with at a radio station came outside to have a smoke and I was standing there and he must have noticed something and he said 'you know, it will all work out. Because it has to, right?' In other words, life is life and it has a weird way of working out - not always like you think it should, but it does. We can't even control half of it. And by the way, I took that line from my co-worker and stuck it in a song. So you should also buy a Brian Lisik CD and come to a show if you are struggling with life; rock-n-roll always worked for me.
Keep it ROCKIN Brian.. Again thank you so much for this awesome time you shared with me here. We MUST do it again soon!
Everyone check out Brian Lisik's work and be ready to be wow'd by the wonderful music you will find there.
CTV only brings you the best underground stuff in the whole world!!!
Where will the adventure's take Raven next? Stay Tuned in to find out!!!
So, Here it is everyone my interview with Brian Lisik.
Raven: When did music become your passion?
Brian Lisik: Like most people, I've always had music around me in some way. My parents always had a lot of stuff from the 50s and 60s lying around - Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, old country stuff. But when my older brother, Brock, got a guitar when he was about 15 and one of our cousins played us a Waylon Jennings record, it was all over. Brock learned as much of the Waylon catalog we could get our hands on, so I got to see someone playing Waylon songs in my own basement. At about 10 years old I began to really think 'THAT is something I could see myself doing.' Plus it had become painfully apparent by that point that I was a horrible baseball player and Indiana Jones wasn't hiring archaeologist interns to help fight Nazis, so my options were limited.
Raven: What drives you to keep pursing your dreams?
Brian Lisik: Stupidity mainly. And the fact that I keep coming up with songs and the live set keeps getting more solid and better. I guess the goal from the beginning was to become really good, get lots of accolades for my brilliance, then ride off into the sunset or something. I've gotten better, some people have told me I'm not bad, but I'm far from riding off anywhere yet.
Raven: What are your aspirations for the future?
Brian Lisik: I think I probably started to answer that one in the last question. In general, just to keep working and getting paid. In the immediate future, the band and I are recording a new CD that we hope to have out in the spring of 2014 - and we have been talking to a couple different labels about releasing it, which could open it up to some more markets than the other ones have been able to hit. So far we've had great success press-wise - and thank you for that - but I'd definitely like to tour more. I play throughout the Midwest and East Coast fairly regularly, but maybe get out west and down south some. And we are also releasing a live DVD later this year. So stay tuned.
Raven: How has the underground music world been to you?
Brian: The underground music world has kind of been a second - or maybe first - home for me. And 'underground' has meant a lot of different things over the years that I've been playing. I used to write for Scene Magazine in Cleveland and I got to review all the 'underground' music that the magazine received - which meant mostly self-released or very small label stuff that nobody else wanted to listen to. But I discovered some killer bands that way; Guided By Voices, Afghan Whigs, Less Than Jake, the Kelley Deal 6000, Todd Snider, some guy named Bob from Detroit who went by the name Kid Rock - then years later, many of these bands were being touted as the new wave of 'Alternative music' and everybody wanted to sound like The Nixons. To me, music - at least rock music - sounds best all loud and sweaty in a basement that smells like a cross between stale beer and mold. But I play at many much nicer places now - you know, since I am a guy who gets interviewed by magazines now. Wink.
Raven: HeHe!
Raven:What’s your favorite moment so far in your career?
Brian Lisik: Boy, that is a tough one. Really every time my band and I are on stage and hit a groove and sort of glance at each other with that 'wow' expression - that becomes the latest 'favorite moment.' But I'd have to say the best times overall have been the really surreal moments - having lunch at Don Dixon's house with the Smithereens and Don gets a call from the guy who is about to go out on tour playing drums for Don Henley; doing shots and learning the chords to 'Frankie' backstage with Jesse Malin while my bass player is banging on the door going 'dude, we're on, let's go!'; practicing in the garage with my daughter and her friends as our 'audience'; watching my son sing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs with his new guitar player at a show on a patio in Canton last week...I got a million of 'em.
Raven: Where is your next event going to be held at?
Brian Lisik: I am playing at 6 p.m. tomorrow night (Aug. 30) at Eadies Fish House, 6616 Wise Ave. N.W. in North Canton. But depending on when this story runs, just check out www.brianlisik.com for the whole schedule.
Also, Oct. 5 at http://thecenterofharmony.com/
Raven: Where can we find your music to listen so we can jam to your awesomeness?
Brian Lisik: You can find me @
www.brianlisik.com
Brian Lisik rock musician and writer.
Raven:What is your favorite color and why?
Brian Lisik: Apologies to all the artists out there who may claim white and black aren't real colors, but I just feel like I look best wearing black. And I love Johnny Cash. So black is my favorite color.
Raven:Do you have a favorite memory from life so far that you can share with us?
Brian Lisik: Hmm...another tough one. Actually I can't think of just one. I'm proud of a lot of my accomplishments and being a dad has been one big long favorite memory really. But I guess I'll be vague and say I'm glad that in the memory department, I've had more favorites than not. From what I can remember.
Raven:If a fan is sitting there struggling with something in life, what would your advice be to them?
Brian Lisik: Don't quit. I know that sounds all Nancy-Reagan-Just-Say-No, or I'm-OK-Your-OK psycho-babble crap. But I remember several years ago, when I was going through - in hindsight - what was a really rough time for me - and a guy I worked with at a radio station came outside to have a smoke and I was standing there and he must have noticed something and he said 'you know, it will all work out. Because it has to, right?' In other words, life is life and it has a weird way of working out - not always like you think it should, but it does. We can't even control half of it. And by the way, I took that line from my co-worker and stuck it in a song. So you should also buy a Brian Lisik CD and come to a show if you are struggling with life; rock-n-roll always worked for me.
Keep it ROCKIN Brian.. Again thank you so much for this awesome time you shared with me here. We MUST do it again soon!
Everyone check out Brian Lisik's work and be ready to be wow'd by the wonderful music you will find there.
CTV only brings you the best underground stuff in the whole world!!!
Where will the adventure's take Raven next? Stay Tuned in to find out!!!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
LISIK FALL SOLO TOUR RAMPING UP
New Brian Lisik The Mess That Money Could Buy T-shirts are also on sale now and can be purchased at the brianlisik.com store - http://www.brianlisik.com/ - along with the Happiness Is Boring and The Mess That Money Could Buy cds.
Stay tuned for more updates at brianlisik.com , www.facebook.com/brianlisik, and www.twitter.com/brianlisik .
And see ya at the shows kiddies!
“Picturesque story
lines at times reminiscent of the masters of the genre including Neil Young and
Bruce Springsteen.” Bruce Moore - Pure
Grain Audio
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Lisik stars as rocker Billy James in new online film, "Open Mic - The Series"
The majority of the film, which follows a group of Nashville-based musicians (including Steve McClain, pictured with Lisik) in search of a record contract, was cast and filmed in Music City.
Lisik portrays Billy James, the musical nemesis of McClain's character, Hans. Since, you know, just like all those cool old Beatles and Elvis movies, there always has to be a musical nemesis...
Details coming soon on the film's release and distribution. Visit Open Mic - The Series for more information.
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